Lubricating system



Oct.

. LUBRICATING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 2o, 1922 2 sheets-snaai 1 Oct. 23, 1 928.

' 1,688,571 O,`ZERK, NOW BY JUDICIAL CHANGE OF NAME 0.*U. ZERK LUBRIGATING SYSTEM I Filed Jan. 20. 1922 Y, 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Il I|||. l

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lhull LII l M K .Il I lwoewtoz I Patented oa. 23, 192s.

UNITED STAT-Es 'oscaa zERx, Now BY JUDICIAL CHANGE or NAME oscen ULYssEs znnx', or cLEvE LAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T TEE BASSICK MANUFACTUR- y ING COMPANY.

LUBnIcA'rmG- SYSTEM;e

applicati@ mea January 20, '1922'. .serial Nn 530,515.

This invention is directed to improvements l in lubricating systems, .and is more particularly concerned with systems wherein a, number of lubricant' receiving devices` are 6 permanently attached to various elements o the mechanism which is to be lubricated. At the present time there are a variety of lubricating systems wherein a grease gun is provided'which is adapted to be interchange 10 ably connected to a plurality of lubricant receiving elements or nipples. In such sys. tems, it iscustomary to provide the grease gun with coupling means which may be con nected to said nipples. The nipples are usu-h ally provided with removable covers ordust caps which must be'detached vfrom each nipple when the mechanism is being lubricated. These covers frequently become lost with the result that extraneous foreign matter accun mulates upon the-nipples and is frequently forced into the bearings of thevmechanism at the time the lubricating thereof is being effected. y A

The general object ofmy invention, there! fore, is the provision of ,an ideal lubricatingl system comprising a .series of lubricating nipples or lubricant receptacles, 'and a grease gun adapted to be interchangeably coupled to each ofthe nipples by a simple manual operation consist-ing of pressing the discharge end of the gun into engagement with the nipples, whereby 'the uncovering of theV nipple oriliee, the coupling of the gun to the nipple and the discharging of the lubricant from the gun to the nipple is ei'ected. Y

An additional objectyof the present invention is to provide a lubricating system includ-l ing a number'of lubricating nipples having collapsible covers'which areadapted to be displaced by a novel coupling/arrangement attached to a grease gun; the uncovering lof the grease receiving aperture of thenipple and the coupling of the gun being effected in the same operation. A further object4 of my invention isthe provision of valve means disposed in thecoupling end of the gun which will be automatically openedduring' a manual coupling op eration whereby grease or other lubrlcant, whichhas been compressed in the gun barrel previous to the coupling operation, maybe injected into the nipple.

. Another object of the present invention 1s thepro'vlsion of a lubricating nipple, gun coupllng means, and valve means which may .be respectively operated upon a single man- .ual coupling operation.; the valve means and couplingmeans being'ogf such construction as to permlt angular adjustment thereof, rela'- tive to the gun barrel.

OtherV objectswill become apparentv from the following description herein set forth in Areferenceto the accompanying drawings; the

essential characteristics the claims.

In thel drawings, Fig. 1 illustrates a gun which is shown as being disposed above and in alignment wit-'h a lubricating nipple shown Y are summarized in in F 2; Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of 'the gun and the nipple showing the relation of the various parts Whenthe connecting operation is partially completed; Fig. 4 is a similar view illustrating the relation of the gun and nipple whenuthe coupling operation ,hasv been completed; Fig.A 5 is an alternate .construction wherein the coupling means is adjustably connected to the gun barrel;Fig.

6 is adetailed elevation of the discharge end swungat an angle;`and Fig. 7 is across section-al view illustrating the construction forming the connection between the gun barrel andthe coupling mea-ns.

Designating the various element-s of my de- I vlce by reference characters, 1n F 1g. 1 I havel Y illustrated a lubricating gun of the repres`V sure type havinga barrel formed -o .joined tubular members 9 and 10; each member com- Y prising. substantiallyonehalf of the gun i barrel. The upper and lower ends ofthe rev-1V spec'tive barrel members are contracted into interiorly threaded neck portions 9% and 9b to no' 'i respectively receive a reducing member 11 ;7 `.t and a` closure member 12. The member '11:

servesasa guideor bearing for `a, graduated V stem 13. The stein has a spring actuatedpiston 14 secured tothe inner end thereof; Y

The pist-on may be a V{iexible cupfmeinber; g 'I 15 which is disposed between metallic wash"Y er members 16 and 17; the three members' 19o ed-toi comprising the piston being rigidly mounted o'n areduced portion- 13a'of the piston stem. This piston construction may be design have suicient strength to withstand f theifl i i thrust of the heavyspring member18 which being wedged in the convergin ll tend into a lubricating nipple N during the operation of coupling the gun thereto. The nozzle member 2O may have a valve seat formed therein adapted to be closed by a valve plug 21 which is loosely mounted in a suitable 4 l5 bore formed in the nozzle member. This plugmember may have a substantially s uare portion with the cornersslightly rounled to afford bearing contact with the inner wall of the nozzle member. The lower end of the plug member may be formed into a valve closing portion 21 which is adapted to normally maintain the lubricant within the gun barrel against the pressure of the spring member-18. A resilient member 23 is laced between a shoulder formed in the re ucing member 12 and the upper end of the plug member 21-to maintain the valve lug on the valve seat.

A- valve stem 24 1s disposed within the discharge end of the nozzle member 2O and the lower end of the valve plug 21 and is adapted to act on the valve plu The member 24 may project a sullicient lst'ance from the discharge orifice of the nozzle member to cause a raising of the plug member 21 when the stem is brought into abutting relation with a rigid plate 25 in the nipple body 26.

A resilient washer member 28 is provided within the nipple to enga e the outer surfaces of the discharge neck o the nozzle member when the latter is inserted in the nipple during the coupling operation. a

The nipple construction embodies a novel dust cover or cap construction which is arranged to recede from the nipple receiving aperture during the first part" of the gun coupling o eration.

To e ect the uncovering of the nipple, I have provided a movable sleeve member 32 slidable in the'tubular member 33 mounted on the reducing member 12, which sleeve member may act on the nipple'cover. The., sleeve 32 is maintained in extended position by a spring member 34 which is arranged to have one end abut the reducing member 12, while the other endrests on an inwardly'eip. tending bead 35 formedin the member 32. The sleeve'member 32 may have the upper end thereof .enlarged whereby a shoulder 32l is provided to coact with the turned in end 33 of the tubular member 33.) The spring mem? ber 34 may thus be maintained in a normally compressed condition.

The outer en^l of the slidable member 32, may be of such dimensions that the inner surV faces thereof will engage the ridges 37 of the nipple cover member 37. Hence the tubular member may be slip ed on to this cover member until the beade portion 35 thereof engages the upper edge of the cove'r member 37. Further movement of the tubularmember toward the nipple will press or move the cover member, downwardly, causing the inturned upper end of the cover member to engage and depress the outwardly flaring lower edges of the cap members 39, resulting in a pivotal movement of these cap members about the dome-shaped inlet end of the nipple. 4This pivotal movement of the cap. members 39 results in a separating 'of the upper ends of these members and consequent uncovering of the inlet of the ni ple.

The cover mem er 37 and cap members 39 l are maintained in a normally closed 'condition .by a conic spring .member 40 which is disposed between the upper shoulder formed on a .body member 41 of the nip le, and a disc member 42, upon which the lbwer portions of the cap members rest.

It is important that the spring member 34 be ofsuiciently greater strength than the spring member 40 to effect a vcomplete compression of the latter spring member before the `first named spring member yields. will be evident that the tubular member 32extends a suicient distance beyond the lower end of the dischar e nozzle to permit suliicient movement of t e gun to uncover the receiving aperture of the nip le before the discharge nozzle has reached t e same.

In Fig. 3 the tubular member 32 is illustrated as having beeneoupled to the nipple cover andthe latter is shown in a downward or ,open position." In the same ligure the spring member 34 is ilhi'strated as having been considerably. compressed andthe tubular member 32 telescoped; a' considerable distance into the outer tubular member 33.

In Fig. 4 the relation of the means and nipple is illustrate at'the com- -pletion of the coupling operation. yIn thisv view, the-valve plug 21 is shown as having coupling l been raised out of contact with the' valve seat'4 by the stem 24 and the Vdischar e end'of .the nozzle is illustrated as being in 'a' 'utting rela- `tion with theplate 25. In this position, the

vgil-ease or lubricant is being dischar ed under .'gh pressure from the -gun barrel y spring 18. To rovide an unobstructed way,

the discharge end of the' nozz e, a' trans-" at verse slot isformed thereinwhich permits the lubricant to 'escape from the gun nozzle. The

lia

lubricant is then forced around the plate25A which is substantially square in cross section,

A .ball valve member 43 is. thel'depl by the lubricant 'as 'it flows into the bering wlich isbeingllubricated.

t should be dispodfa suicient distance above the plate 2.5 to permit a partial withdrawal of the nozzle member fromr the nipple during is evident tht' the 4packing member 28l which period the lug valve 21. is being reseated. The gun arrel may-be filled with lubricant under high pressure during. which operation the spring member 18 will be compressed by the piston.

It frequently occurs that lubricating nipples are 'disposed about various parts of a mechanism in such positions that grease guns having rigid coupling means could not be coupled directly thereto. I therefore have provided a joint between the coupling means and the gun barrel which will permit angular adjustment of the coupling means relative to the gun barrel, as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. 'In this construction, the valve means and nozzle discharge member may Abe substantially as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. The reducing member 12, however, may bereplaced b a connecting member 55 and a tubular mem er 56; the latter member having the lower end thereof terminating in a knobbed or spherical formation. The inner surface of the spherical portion of the tubular member 56 is engaged by a member 57 having a complementary surface in engagement therewith. This member may have a passageway 58a communicating with the discharge nozzle. I

In this construction the outer tubular member 33 may be secured to a sleeve 59 Lhaving the upper en'd thereof formed to provide a surface complementary to the spherical end of the tubular member 56.

Packing means may be 'disposed within the tubular member 56 which may be comprised of a cup washer 60 formed of pressed cork or other suitable resilient packing materia-l arranged to engage the inner wall of the tubular .member 56 and the conical end v57a of thel member 57. The packing washer is maintained in compressed relation to'm'embers 58 and 60 by a spring member62.

This packing arrangementl is such that the spring member 62 acts to maintainl a sealed joint, not only when low pressures are present in the gun barrel but when the pressure is increased. The lubricant acts directly upon the packing washer 60 and compresses it against the walls of the tubular member 56. and the end of the member 57. This construction permits the coupling means to be angularly adjusted within certain limits, relative tothe gun barrel, and the packing means is such that leakage at the joint is prevented, irrespective of the amount of said adjustment. j Y

Many advantages are obtained by the use of alubricating system such as I have herein described. The feature of havingl lubri- .cating nipples which may be 'shielded by a suitable cover but which may be uncovered without necessitating the annoyance of manually removing the cover is of paramount importance in that the uncovering of the nipple, the coupling of the gun thereto, and the discharging of the lubricant from the gun barrel into the nipple may. be accomphshed by the simple manual operation of pressing the end Vof the gun yagainst the nipple. A .further advantage to be found in my lubricating sys- 7H. tem is that/the nipple covers may be convenientlysecured to the nipples that they cannot become displaced or lost.

VHaving thus described my invention, I claim 1. In combination with a nipple for feeding lubricant to an element to be lubricated, i a grease gun comprising a barrel, means for constantly exerting pressi re within the barrel, a discharge nozzle nnected with the 8" barrel, a valve interpose between the clischarge end of the nozzle and the barrel, means projecting from the nozzle for opening said valve, and telescopic couplingmeans extendingv from said barrel for connecting 9' the grease gun to said nipplev by exerting longitudinal manual pressure on the gun whereupon said valve opening means will be operated.

2. In combination withan apertured nipple 9 for feeding lubricant to an element to beLv lubricated, a grease gun having a gun barrel adapted vto be held manually in `contact with said nipple, means for automatically l exerting pressureon ,the grease in said barrel, a discharge nozzle extending from thel gun barrel, a valve interposed between the gun barrel and' the dischargeend of said- `nozzle adapted to normally seal the gun barrel from the outlet nozzle, an external dust l0" shield on the nipple for covering the aperture therein, and a hollow guide carried by the gun adapted to enclose and act uponthe shield to effect the exposing of the aperture in the nipple when said gun is pressed longitudinally thereagainst.

3. In a lubricating system, the combination of a lubricating ni ple adapted to be secured to an element to Ibe lubricated, said lubricating nipple having a dust cover shielding thereceiving orifice thereof from extraneous matter, a grease gun having means-for constantly' and automatically exerting pressure upon the grease in the gun barrel, and a hol-j j low guide telescopically secure-d to the deL-311,115 livery end pf the gun for enclosinnr .and uncovering said nipple orifice when die gun is connectedto the'` nipple.

4. In a lubricating system, a lubricating nipple adapted to'be secured to an element to be lubricated, a cover for 'shielding the orifice ofthe nipple from extraneousmatter, a lubricant dispensing gun having means for coupling the-gun barrel to the nipple, including guide means for enclosing andautomatically unshielding the orifice -of the nipple when the gun is coupled thereto by manual pressure l lengthwise of said gun, a discharge nozzle connected to the gun barrel, a valve interposed be-l tween the discharge orifice ofthe nozzle and 13 the gunv barrel,- and valve opening means adapted to open saidvalve consequent upon a coupling of the gun to the nipple.

.5. In a lubricating system, the combination- 'the gun barrel, ,a nozzle having' communication with the'gun barrel and adapted to be inserted in the orifice of said nipple, a valve interposed between the' gun barrel and the discharge orifice of the nozzle, means adapted to enclose and couple the gun to the. nipple by longitudinal pressure upon the gun, said means including telescopic members adapted to act upon the nipple cover to unshield the nipple orifice whereby said nozzle may enter said orifice during a single manual cou ling operation of attaching the gun toy said llbri eating nipple, and means rigid with the nipple for operating said valve opening vmeans whereby the valve will be lopen at the comple# tion of the coupling operation.

6. In a lubricating system, the combination of a lubricating nipple adapted to be secured to an element to be lubricated, said lubricating nipple having a dust cpver shielding the receiving orifice from` extraneous matter, a

- lubricant dispensing gun having means for constantly and automatically exerting pressure upon the lubricant in the gun barrel, and

means carried by the gun 4for enclosing and uncovering the oriiced endof said nipple" when the gun is connected to the nipple, said means being angularly adjustable relative to the gun barrel.

7. Lubricant injectionmeans comprising al lubricant barrel, a discharge conduit at the end thereof, a fitting having means for'forming a tight seal with the end of said conduit,

flow control means opened by the force used' flow control means opened by the force used' t'o move said conduit and sealing means intol assembled. relation after the seal is 'formed only, and lubricant compressing means comj Y prising a pistonin said barrel, and a piston rod projecting out of the barrel to receive the force used to move the parts together, whereby vsaid force also places the lubricant under compression.

lubricant barrel, a discharge condult at the end thereof, a iitting having means for form-l ing a tight seal with the end of said conduit, flow control means opened by the force used to'move said conduit and sealing means into assembled`rela'tion after the sea1 'is formedonly, and lubricant compresslng means positioned to receive and transmit the force used to move the parts to' ether andthereby com- Y press the lubricant in the barrel.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aix In Y signature. v -A OSCAR ZERK.`

9. Lubricant injection means comprising a -65 

